A Peel police officer who died after a traffic collision in Brampton this week was "the ideal recruit," Chief Mike Metcalf said on Wednesday.
Constable Artem "James" Otchakovski, 36, was involved in a two-vehicle accident at about 11 p.m. Monday while en route to assist another officer in a non-emergency situation, Chief Metcalf said. He was taken to hospital for treatment but died last night around 9 p.m., surrounded by family and colleagues.
Both the force and the constable's young family — including his wife, Erin, and three-year-old son, Owen — are struggling to come to grips with the tragedy.
"We have suffered a great loss," Chief Metcalf said, noting the force's major collision bureau is investigating the incident. No charges have been laid against the other driver, who has been discharged from hospital.
"It's an overall sadness, I think, within our organization right now."
Const. Otchakovski, originally from Moldova, worked as a hotel chef in Israel before immigrating to the Barrie region in 1995 to work at a security company. He joined the Peel force in 2008, assigned to 21 Division.
"Of course he brings with that some life skills, some business skills," Chief Metcalf said. "He spoke three languages: Russian, Hebrew and Ukrainian, so he would be a valuable asset to us and is a valuable loss."
Police are still seeking witnesses to the collision, which occurred at the intersection of Airport Road and Steeles Avenue East.
Funeral information will be released in the coming days.
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